ISIS in South East Asia: the siege of Marawi

Photos (10)

Cover
In May 2017 a five month siege began after ISIS occupied the town of Marawi in the Philippines. Here a soldier stands in the ruins of the Cathedral of Saint Mary.
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Pro-ISIS graffiti in a damaged house in Marawi.  It was reported that ISIS executed Christians during the siege.
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Overlooking a tent city for some of the 50,000 people who remain displaced.  Although the fighting has finished people expect to be here for several years while the town is rebuilt.
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Military vehicle driving past the remains of one of Marawi's mosques.  The area remains under martial law.
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Bullet holes in the walls of a home, Marawi.  Over one thousand people were killed during the battle. The conflict went largely unreported outside the Philippines.
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A displaced child imitates a female ISIS fighter's full face burka.
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ISIS were able to occupy houses which were already fortified due to family feuds. The Philippine military used air strikes in an attempt to dislodge them.
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Children playing in a tent for IDPs (internally displaced persons).
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Former residents of Marawi, now displaced and with mosques destroyed, pray in a tent in the rain.
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Marawi is still under military control.  Three men walk down the main street on their way to diffuse unexploded ordinance. "Ground Zero" was very badly damaged; the rebuilding process will take years.
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